The Cathedral Quarter Trust was incorporated in February 2012 to develop the Cathedral Quarter as the thriving hub of Belfast’s cultural life and to implement the Cathedral Quarter Development Plan. The Cathedral Quarter Trust was the driving force behind the development of the Destination CQ Business Improvement District and is enshrined as the Corporate Founder in the Articles of Association. Destination CQ BID Ltd is a subsidiary of the Cathedral Quarter Trust which nominates a simple majority of the BID Board of Directors.

BID Manager - Gareth Neill

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Chair - Paul McErlean

MCE Public Relations

Paul McErlean is Managing Director and founder of MCE Public Relations Ltd, a leading PR and communications agency in Belfast. Paul is the Chair of Destination CQ BID and Chair of the Cathedral Quarter Trust and is one of six nominees of the Cathedral Quarter Trust to the Destination CQ Board. He represents the professional business sector within the BID and the Donegall Quay and Laganside area.

Company Secretary - Patricia Freedman

Cathedral Quarter Trust

Patricia Freedman is the Director and Company Secretary of the Cathedral Quarter Trust, a charitable organisation established to manage and develop the Cathedral Quarter area. Patricia can be credited for the successful development of the Business Improvement District and is one of six nominees of the Cathedral Quarter Trust to the Destination CQ Board. Patricia is the Destination CQ BIDs Company Secretary and represents the Cathedral Quarter area as a whole and its artistic and cultural heritage.

Director - Iain Lundie

UHY Hacker Young Chartered Accountants

Iain Lundie is a Partner in UHY Hacker Young Chartered Accountants and a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and the Association of Taxation Technicians. He is also the Treasurer for the Cathedral Quarter Trust and is one of six nominees of the Cathedral Quarter Trust to the Destination CQ Board. Iain represents the professional business sector within the BID and the core area of the Cathedral Quarter.

Director - Sorcha Wolsey

The Merchant Hotel

Director - Michelle Davis

Ramada Encore

Michelle is currently Sale Manager for Corporate Accommodation, Group Accommodation, Meetings & Events at Cathedral Quarter Ramada Encore. She provides solutions delegate accommodation in Belfast and managing meetings and events requirements in Belfast for businesses and other organisations.

Michelle is also responsible for building and growing profitable relationships with current customers and providing a venue solution for businesses and organisations hosting meetings and events in Belfast. Increasing the hotel profile through networking and providing an annual marketing strategy for Ramada Encore Belfast to promote hotel bedrooms, conference facilities and SQ Bar & Grill restaurant to meet key business objectives.

Director - Donagh McGoveran

Centra Cathedral Quarter

Donagh has worked in the retail sector for 20 years and has ran his own business for 11 years, currently employing 100 staff. He has now completed an MBA and has used this to help in the planning and development of his business.

Donagh is also the Chairman on the Stranmillis Business association and has experience of working closely with government agencies and university bodies.

Director - James Golden

Quigg Golden

James is currently Director of Quigg Golden and has experience with many major consultants and contractors throughout the UK and Ireland. He has worked in Hong Kong and has considerable international experience in the construction and procurement industry.

James is widely experienced in all aspects of dispute resolution and large scale project management. Always commercially minded, he has a reputation of grasping the key issues quickly and thoroughly and an ability to explain them.

James’ experience includes acting as an Expert Witness in arbitration and litigation. He specialises in the growing area of dispute resolution under the NEC.

James is also a training tutor on the NEC forms of contract for the Institution of Civil Engineers

Director - Jonathan McKeown

JMK Solicitors

Jonathan has been a solicitor since 2001 and since incorporation in 2011 has ran monthly board meetings for the practice. He has also advised and attended executive meetings of three trade body organisations.

Jonathan’s practical experiences at board level have included advising and working to high standards of corporate governance, strategic planning, finance and legal matters.

Director - Les Hume

Dawsons Music

Les is currently director of Valley of Angels Festival, as well as Becca Hume Designs Ltd. He has also previously been Director of the Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission.

Director - Paul McIlwaine

The MAC

Paul has been Director of Finance and Operations at the MAC for the past 4 years. The MAC is the landmark cultural venue within the Cathedral Quarter – attracting over 300,000 visits each year to its diverse programme of theatre, visual arts, community and school’ events.

Paul qualified as a chartered accountant with PWC and has over 20 years’ experience in business within a wide variety of small and large businesses. He has worked in both private and public companies and organisations operating gin NI, GB, Kenya, and mainland China.

Director - Raffaella Folli

Ulster University

Raffaella is the Provost of the Belfast and Jordanstown campuses and one crucial part of her role is to engage with stakeholder groups in the Belfast metropolitan area.

She believes the University is fully committed to the opportunities that are developing in Belfast in connection with its new enhanced Belfast campus. This will bring the expertise of Ulster University Business School and the other faculties on campus right alongside business organisations, leaders, partners and policy makers, ensuring that local business growth and economic development and policy remain fully supported by Ulster University.

Director - Trevor Ringland

Macaulay & Ritchie

Trevor has nearly 35 years’ experience as a lawyer. He has also chaired and served on various audit committees of boards. In addition to this, Trevor has considerable experience of working with the community and developing strategy for various organisations.

Director - Tzvetelina Bogoina-Seenan

Kopyright

Currently Tzvetelina fulfils the role of Finance and HR Manager for her family business, Kopyright. This is a garment branding and personalisation business serving the general public and the trade from two locations in Belfast City Centre

Tzvetelina is also a Deveopment Director for Balfour Beatty, a large international infrastructure group. She has over 10 years’ experience working with public sector organisation, commercial partners and a wide range of advisors, delivering complex construction projects in sectors such as roads, education and healthcare. She has an excellent understanding of financial information, management of budgets and driving programme performance as well as leading multi-disciplinary teams who interpret clients’ aspirations and strategic objectives into successful proposals.

Tzvetelina holds a MSc Management and Corporate Governance from Ulster University and has a full understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a board of directors.

Director - Douglas McIldoon

St George's Parish Church

Director - Zoë Anderson

Start360

Zoë has over 15 years’ professional experience in the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland, most recently having been with Start360 for four years. This experience has been in a range of roles, focussing on a mix of communications, media and social media, public affairs, policy, fundraising, event management, marketing and strategic planning.

As a member of the senior management team of Start360, Zoë’s responsibilities include reporting to the Board and inducting new members. She is currently working with colleagues on the development of their new Strategic Plan and every year produces the annual report.

Zoë also brings her many years’ expertise in communications and marketing, particularly in the areas of social media, websites and public affairs work – including web development and content management, social media content, public affairs and communication strategies.

Director - Martin Lynch

GBL Productions

Born and brought up in Belfast, Martin has combined his roles of writer and producer for over 30 years. He has written plays for a wide variety of theatre companies, BBC Radio 4 and screen. One of Northern Ireland’s most controversial writers, Martin was awarded the prestigious award of Belfast Ambassador July 2013.

s and marketing, particularly in the areas of social media, websites and public affairs work – including web development and content management, social media content, public affairs and communication strategies.

Director - Joanne McKenna

Hadskis

Owner of Belfast's award winning restaurants, James Street South and Hadskis in the Cathedral Quarter